Black man hugs Nazi outside Richard Spencer event, asks him ‘Why do you hate me?’
Tribune Media WireGAINSVILLE, Fla. — A video shows the moment a black man hugged a Nazi outside white supremacist leader Richard Spencer’s speech Thursday afternoon at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
In the video, which was posted on Twitter by user Politics for Dummies, 31-year-old Aaron Alex Courtney is seen hugging the man and asking, “Why don’t you like me, dog?”
Courtney told the New York Daily News that he could have hurt the man or started a fight but instead wanted to show love.
“I asked him, ‘Why do you hate me? What is it about me? Is it my skin color? My history? My dreadlocks?”
When the Nazi looked away and avoided his questions, he gave him a hug.
“I reached over and the third time, he wrapped his arms around me, and I heard God whisper in my ear, ‘You changed his life,'” Courtney said.
When he asked again, “Why do you hate me?” the man replied, “I don’t know.”
University and local officials were concerned that the event could become violent, such as what occurred in Charlottesville, and took steps to prevent that.
On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Alachua County, where the university is located, to enable law enforcement agencies to work together more efficiently.
My wife read me a FB post from the man who saved the white supremist at the rally. I got her mad at me for saying something didn't seem right with the story. Admittedly, I do this with articles , especially FB, because when you pick them apart, the story falls apart.
The part I didn't believe is that a shot supremist would actually think differently even after that, especially immediatly after.
Most white supremist literally think their race is better. This many times is how they were raised who they hang out with.
I commend this gentleman. I would not have put myself in harms way to save the supremist. I probably would have thought he was an idiot and walked away.
